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Overall Preseason thoughts

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This preseason was 100% better then the preseason that we saw a year ago. I think that there were far more postives then there was negitives. And for the first time in a while this looks like a real football team.

I am more sold on Todd Haley then ever. Last season this team did not often look as good as they have now. And this is only preseason. I no preseason does not mean much but just the fact that the past preseasons have looked so bad this is a huge step forward IMO.

Postives.
The defense. The defense a year ago gave up tons of yards on the ground and could not get pressure on the qb to save there own lifes. They looked much better on both accounts. Pressure still needs to get more but it's a far step forward on the defensive side of the ball.

The runing game. It looks really good. With Jones Charles and Mccluster I don't think that there is any question that this is going to be an offense that is based on the running game.

The return game. Last year this was a week point. Outside a few nice returns by Charles the Chiefs started often in the shadow of there own goal line most the time.

Negtives
The passing game needs work. It is by far the weak point of the offense. I hope then when in the real season the running game opens things up for them more but the passing game is in real need of work.

The late defense. Blew a game that the Chiefs should have won against Philly in the last moments. They have to play better in the last moments of the game.

I think this team can make a run at the playoffs with us playing the weak NFC WEST.

While I agree with your assessment, I wouldn't really call the late defensive problems as a negative, the guys that gave up those plays will be lucky to be on the practice squad on Saturday.

That's true. But the negative in that is if a couple of guys get hurt then some of those guys will be on the field. I hope that doesn't happen but we are not a very deep football team at the moment. Maybe we will find a good player when the cuts happen.

In general I would like put pre-season behind me, and just hope like heck for a fast start to the season. But for the sake of discussion, I will suggest that on the Defensive side of the ball, my Kool-Aid is definitely EBerry flavor! And though I remain uncomfortable with the combination of Cassel and the O-Line, I hope the brilliance of Mc-LUSTER, the will to BATTLE in ARENAS throughout the NFL, and the re-tooled Arrowhead will have Chiefs fans feeling as if shot from a BOWE as we rally the sea of Red to help our team Shock the Chargers and the World on Monday Night!!

In general I would like put pre-season behind me, and just hope like heck for a fast start to the season. But for the sake of discussion, I will suggest that on the Defensive side of the ball, my Kool-Aid is definitely EBerry flavor! And though I remain uncomfortable with the combination of Cassel and the O-Line, I hope the brilliance of Mc-LUSTER, the will to BATTLE in ARENAS throughout the NFL, and the re-tooled Arrowhead will have Chiefs fans feeling as if shot from a BOWE as we rally the sea of Red to help our team Shock the Chargers and the World on Monday Night!!

My biggest overall concern is still apparent: Matt Cassel could be the reason this team doesn't make the playoffs if it manages to stay relatively healthy and he doesn't improve dramatically. I witnessed the guy stand in the pocket, have all day to throw, and then throw it right over the tight end running a drag route across the middle 5 yards away. Hell, I could make that throw in my sleep.

My biggest overall concern is still apparent: Matt Cassel could be the reason this team doesn't make the playoffs if it manages to stay relatively healthy and he doesn't improve dramatically. I witnessed the guy stand in the pocket, have all day to throw, and then throw it right over the tight end running a drag route across the middle 5 yards away. Hell, I could make that throw in my sleep.

His incompletion to Bowe in the end zone looked eerily Favre-esque where he heaved that game winner last season against the 49ers. Except for the fact that it was the first quarter of a game that didn't matter and Cassel isn't nearly good or lucky enough to make a completion like that (though he is lucky enough to land a contract 60 million bigger than what he's worth and Bowe gave it all he could to make him look good).

His incompletion to Bowe in the end zone looked eerily Favre-esque where he heaved that game winner last season against the 49ers. Except for the fact that it was the first quarter of a game that didn't matter and Cassel isn't nearly good or lucky enough to make a completion like that (though he is lucky enough to land a contract 60 million bigger than what he's worth and Bowe gave it all he could to make him look good).

Yeah, not to mention Favre did it against a prevent defense and Cassel was against maybe half of a first string defense.

The biggest difference I see when I watch Cassel and then watch good quarterbacks around the league (aside from arm strength) is that other quarterbacks just seem to have way better vision. They know when to hit their receivers off of their breaks and when there's nothing there, and they make quick decisions.

Too often we see him trying to force a 5 yard throw to a guy that's being blanketed, even on 3rd and long type situations, rather than throwing a 10-20 yard pass where only the receiver can catch it and letting them try and make a play.

We have enough talent now that 3rd and 10 should not be a 5 yard pass to Leonard Pope unless he is wide open with room to run. Try to make something happen at least. Manning, Brady, Brees, and company didn't get to where they are by checking down to guys with no chance of getting a 1st down.

Bowe, Chambers, McCluster, Charles. The last thing I want to see on 3rd and 10 is a 5 yard pass to Leonard Pope. Ever. Defenses will give you that all day, and for good reason.

My biggest overall concern is still apparent: Matt Cassel could be the reason this team doesn't make the playoffs if it manages to stay relatively healthy and he doesn't improve dramatically. I witnessed the guy stand in the pocket, have all day to throw, and then throw it right over the tight end running a drag route across the middle 5 yards away. Hell, I could make that throw in my sleep.

I will disagree.... I was on the fence with Cassel and after pre-season game one I was ready to throw him under the bus. I felt his performance in Game two was very sharp, even though he didn't through any deep balls, but the Chiefs had a game plan and he threw the ball accurately.

Game three, he wasn't impressive, but not horrible either.

Last night, I thought Cassel was impressive. Yes, he threw a bad pass over the middle. Other than that he was pretty accurate and has some mustard on the ball. The long pass to Bowe was dead on accurate, but Bowe was raped.

Yes he threw a bad pass, but even the best QB's make at least one bad throw a game. I have seen Peyton Manning do a bunch, and you can see the frustration on his face when he does it. It happens.

I strongly believe that some fans, are so dead set on hating on a guy, that you become blind to everything else he does except the negative and essentially are giving him an unrealistic chance.

I am not saying he is going to be a top 10 QB, but he is good enough to make the playoffs. He threw one interception in Pre-season that I can recall and it was still a good pass had Bowe not slipped. If Bowe had caught that, it was some big yards.

There also people hating on Haley, but the guy so far this off season, has made a huge change compared to last year.

Based on what I have seen in the preseason, I think our team overall is much improved. I think QB play is what will determine whether we are a 6 win team or a .500 or better team competing for a spot in the playoffs.

I want Cassel to be the guy, but I am concerned. I guess the good news if that if he leads us to a 6 win season, we will be able to draft high enough to take a potential franchise QB. The bad news is that drafting a QB would likely set us back a year or two.